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fandomweekly2022-09-08 08:25 am
iluvroadrunner6) wrote in fandomweekly2022-09-08 08:25 am
Entry tags:
[#140] Now the Pain has Cut Too Deep (Original)
Theme Prompt: #140—Learning Lessons
Title: Now the Pain has Cut Too Deep
Fandom: Original
Rating/Warnings: PG-13
Bonus: Yes.
Word Count: 840
Summary: Kara runs into an unexpected old flame at a wedding.
I should have known this wedding would not be the release I wanted it to be.
On paper, it looks like exactly what I need. A family wedding of a friend, where I don’t know anyone and could just relax and have fun. Caroline offers me the invitation and I jump at it. Between residency, my lack of a personal life because of being a first-year medical resident, and the general state of my life, I am ready to put on a pretty dress, dance and have a few drinks with people who I don’t know, don’t have to impress, and will probably never see again.
Win-win, right?
Wrong.
I realize my dangerous mistake the second my eyes land on the best man at the ceremony. Carter Bowland. My high school boyfriend who unceremoniously dumped me as we were getting ready to leave for college, aka the guy who broke my heart and crushed my soul. It’s almost as though it forces the wind from my sails the second I see him as all those terrible feelings bubble back up to the surface.
I promptly put myself in the section related to the bride and keep my head down. Hide behind a woman wearing an obnoxiously enormous hat, and hope that he doesn’t see me.
It’s not that I want to make things awkward, or that I haven’t moved on. I have. Several times, in fact. But how Carter and I left things still stings, in a way that I’ve never been able to shake. It’s frustrating, because I should be beyond this. I am a confident, competent professional. I fix people for a living. People put their lives in my hands, and the idea of confronting my high school boyfriend makes me feel like there’s a rock sitting in the pit of my stomach.
I hate the way he instantly makes me feel two feet tall.
But I can do this. This isn’t about me, this is about Caroline and me being a first-rate wedding guest. So I suck it up, pull my shoulders back, and pretend I didn’t see him. This will be fine.
This will be fine.
Apparently I’m not as great at projecting “fine” as I think, because the second Caroline sits down next to me, she raises an eyebrow. “Why are we hiding behind Aunt Midge’s massive hat?”
I take a deep breath, keeping my voice low. This is my best friend. She can handle it. “So remember that boyfriend I told you about? From high school?”
“Mr. I think we would both have better college experiences if we were single? Yeah, what a douche.”
“He’s the best man.”
Caroline’s mouth drops comically large, and she peers around Aunt Midge to get a better look. “That’s him?”
“Yep.”
There’s a long, contemplative silence before she shrugs. “I thought he would be taller.”
I look over at her gratefully. “I love you.”
“Do you want me to shun him all night? Because I am an A-plus shunner.”
“I know you are, but no. It was high school, right? I’m over it. And he probably doesn’t even remember me.”
“Kara.”
Somehow, I miss him leaving the rest of the bridal party and leaning over the pew to meet her eyes. “Carter. Hi. Oh my god, you’re here.”
“Yeah, I’m the best man. I didn’t know you knew the bride.”
God, he’s so handsome. This is so unfair. Come on, Kara, think with your upstairs brain. You learned the lesson of him a long time ago, and you know the way he’s looking at you now means he’s expecting nostalgic wedding sex and nothing more.
“I don’t. I’m a plus one.”
“Yes,” Caroline pipes up before draping an arm around my shoulders. “My plus one.”
Carter glances between the two of us, eyes widening in surprise before something clicks. “Oh. Oh, that’s great. I didn’t realize. Good … good for you.”
I immediately relax into the hold and smile. “Yeah. But wow, great to see you. It’s been a long time. Maybe we can catch up later.”
“Yeah.” He seems a lot less enthused than he was previously, which makes me think he definitely thought he could con me into getting laid. “Yeah, that sounds great.”
“Great.” The organ starts up at the front of the church, and I nod towards it. “Sounds like that’s your cue.”
“Oh, right.” He waves as he heads back to the front of the church. “See you at the reception.”
He disappears, and I relax, glancing over to Caroline again. “Thank you.”
“What are best friends for, if not for making evil exes think you’re into girls now?”
It’s not inaccurate either. I am bi. But if he thinks I don’t bat for the same team anymore, all the better. The large hat shifts next to us, and Aunt Midge places a hand on my leg.
“You really dodged a bullet, my dear. I never liked that boy.”
I can’t help but laugh as I nod. “Me either, Aunt Midge. Me either.”
Title: Now the Pain has Cut Too Deep
Fandom: Original
Rating/Warnings: PG-13
Bonus: Yes.
Word Count: 840
Summary: Kara runs into an unexpected old flame at a wedding.
I should have known this wedding would not be the release I wanted it to be.
On paper, it looks like exactly what I need. A family wedding of a friend, where I don’t know anyone and could just relax and have fun. Caroline offers me the invitation and I jump at it. Between residency, my lack of a personal life because of being a first-year medical resident, and the general state of my life, I am ready to put on a pretty dress, dance and have a few drinks with people who I don’t know, don’t have to impress, and will probably never see again.
Win-win, right?
Wrong.
I realize my dangerous mistake the second my eyes land on the best man at the ceremony. Carter Bowland. My high school boyfriend who unceremoniously dumped me as we were getting ready to leave for college, aka the guy who broke my heart and crushed my soul. It’s almost as though it forces the wind from my sails the second I see him as all those terrible feelings bubble back up to the surface.
I promptly put myself in the section related to the bride and keep my head down. Hide behind a woman wearing an obnoxiously enormous hat, and hope that he doesn’t see me.
It’s not that I want to make things awkward, or that I haven’t moved on. I have. Several times, in fact. But how Carter and I left things still stings, in a way that I’ve never been able to shake. It’s frustrating, because I should be beyond this. I am a confident, competent professional. I fix people for a living. People put their lives in my hands, and the idea of confronting my high school boyfriend makes me feel like there’s a rock sitting in the pit of my stomach.
I hate the way he instantly makes me feel two feet tall.
But I can do this. This isn’t about me, this is about Caroline and me being a first-rate wedding guest. So I suck it up, pull my shoulders back, and pretend I didn’t see him. This will be fine.
This will be fine.
Apparently I’m not as great at projecting “fine” as I think, because the second Caroline sits down next to me, she raises an eyebrow. “Why are we hiding behind Aunt Midge’s massive hat?”
I take a deep breath, keeping my voice low. This is my best friend. She can handle it. “So remember that boyfriend I told you about? From high school?”
“Mr. I think we would both have better college experiences if we were single? Yeah, what a douche.”
“He’s the best man.”
Caroline’s mouth drops comically large, and she peers around Aunt Midge to get a better look. “That’s him?”
“Yep.”
There’s a long, contemplative silence before she shrugs. “I thought he would be taller.”
I look over at her gratefully. “I love you.”
“Do you want me to shun him all night? Because I am an A-plus shunner.”
“I know you are, but no. It was high school, right? I’m over it. And he probably doesn’t even remember me.”
“Kara.”
Somehow, I miss him leaving the rest of the bridal party and leaning over the pew to meet her eyes. “Carter. Hi. Oh my god, you’re here.”
“Yeah, I’m the best man. I didn’t know you knew the bride.”
God, he’s so handsome. This is so unfair. Come on, Kara, think with your upstairs brain. You learned the lesson of him a long time ago, and you know the way he’s looking at you now means he’s expecting nostalgic wedding sex and nothing more.
“I don’t. I’m a plus one.”
“Yes,” Caroline pipes up before draping an arm around my shoulders. “My plus one.”
Carter glances between the two of us, eyes widening in surprise before something clicks. “Oh. Oh, that’s great. I didn’t realize. Good … good for you.”
I immediately relax into the hold and smile. “Yeah. But wow, great to see you. It’s been a long time. Maybe we can catch up later.”
“Yeah.” He seems a lot less enthused than he was previously, which makes me think he definitely thought he could con me into getting laid. “Yeah, that sounds great.”
“Great.” The organ starts up at the front of the church, and I nod towards it. “Sounds like that’s your cue.”
“Oh, right.” He waves as he heads back to the front of the church. “See you at the reception.”
He disappears, and I relax, glancing over to Caroline again. “Thank you.”
“What are best friends for, if not for making evil exes think you’re into girls now?”
It’s not inaccurate either. I am bi. But if he thinks I don’t bat for the same team anymore, all the better. The large hat shifts next to us, and Aunt Midge places a hand on my leg.
“You really dodged a bullet, my dear. I never liked that boy.”
I can’t help but laugh as I nod. “Me either, Aunt Midge. Me either.”